South Korea

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute has restarted the 30 MWt High-flux Advanced Neutron Application Reactor (Hanaro), which has been offline for the past three-and-a-half years. During this period, the reactor has undergone safety upgrades.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has said he will respect the decision of a Citizens' Jury that construction of units 5 and 6 of the Shin Kori nuclear power plant should continue. In a statement yesterday, he said construction of the project will resume soon, but that no more new plants will be built.

European Utility Requirements (EUR) has approved modifications Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co Ltd has made to its APR1400 reactor design, according to Reuters. The approval by EUR - a technical advisory group for European utilities on nuclear power plants - means South Korea's state-run nuclear operator can further expand its export markets.

A memorandum of understanding on cooperation in nuclear energy was signed yesterday between the UK and South Korea. The agreement calls for greater collaboration in the construction of new nuclear power plants and the decommissioning of old ones.

Construction of units 5 and 6 of South Korea's Shin Kori nuclear power plant looks set to resume after an independent panel today recommended completion of the project. Work on the units - about 30% complete - was suspended in July after President Moon Jae-in issued an administrative order to halt their construction.

South Korea's economic growth has been owed in part to nuclear energy, and innovative use of radiation techniques will support sustainable development said the country's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Lee Jin-gyu. Yet the incoming government wants to focus only on reducing the chance of accident, he explained.